Pieta 3
St Andrews 1
Pieta: N. Vella, T. Ose, N. Pace Cocks, D. Agius, P. Chimezie (J. Scicluna 82), J. Busuttil, G. Mensah (N. Pisani 76), C. Grech, U. Calistus, I. Jalo, A. Macedo
St Andrews: M. Calleja Cremona, A. Satariano, R. Martin, T. Blagrove, J. Farrugia, K. Magro (A. Friggieri 61), A. Borg, J. Walker, M. Davis, D. Jackson, L. Sciberras
Referee: T. Farrugia Cann
Asst. Refs: A. Camilleri, T. Debono
4th official: D. Agius
Scorers: P. Chimezie 53, D. Agius 58, R. Martin 87, J. Scicluna 90
Yellow cards: U. Calistus 3, G. Mensah 12, D. Jackson 13, K. Magro 34, T. Blagrove 65, J. Busuttil 80, J. Scicluna 90
BoV Player of the Match: D. Agius
TMI Top 3: 1. J. Busuttil, 2. D. Agius, 3. M. Davis
Bottom placed Pieta Hostpurs returned to winning form after 13 defeats as they beat St Andrews 3-1 in a convincing performance.
Second half strikes by Paul Chimezie, Dylan Agius and substitute James Scicluna saw them gaining three points which might still be useful in their efforts to avoid relegation. A late added time goal from Ricardo Martin, just before Pieta's third, was not enough for the Saints to save a point.
Pieta have now joined Qormi on 13 points, five below yesterday's opponents St Andrews with just three matches before the end of the campaign.
Pieta wanted a victory at all costs to keep their very remote hopes of avoiding relegation alive. The Saints needed a victory to boost their hopes of avoiding at least the 12th place.
In actual fact, Pieta were the better side in the first half and created more than their opponents. Inspired by a very active Jan Busuttil in midfield and on the right flank, as well as Calistus and Agius, they held the edge in midfield and Saints goalie Calleja Cremona was his side's hero with some good saves to his credit.
On their part, the Saints had Martin Davis who pushed them forward, but despite their endeavour, they only had some long distance shots to their credit while never testing Pieta goalie Nicholas Vella seriously.
In the second half, the Hotspurs maintained their supremacy in midfield and it was no surprise that they scored twice in five minutes to take a commanding lead.
The Saints tried to react but they were found wanting in their final touch as the Pieta defence closed all the gaps so much so that goalie Vella was again never really tested seriously.
It was only in added time that they finally managed to pull a goal back, but then, it was too late.
And even then, the Hotspurs were still good enough to add a third goal before the final whistle.
Pieta were first to attack on 3 minutes through a Jan Busuttil incursion on the flank, but it finished with a shot that was blocked to a corner.
On 19 minutes Neil Pace Cocks set Jan Busuttil on the right. The latter beat a defender and advanced into the area only to see his shot blocked by the onrushing Matthew Calleja Cremona.
Three minutes later, Pieta were again dangerous on two occasions in quick succession. First, from a Pace Cocks freekick, goalie Calleja Cremona saved only partially and a melee ensued in front of the Saints goal with the ball being eventually cleared. Then a shot from the edge of the area by the very active Jan Busuttil only just missed the crossbar.
In the 29th minute, Farrugia was served a good ball by Davis, but his effort went over the bar.
At the other end, a Calistus effort was well saved by Calleja Cremona. And before the interval whistle, the same goalie was called upon to make two good saves off Calistus and Dylan Agius.
Pieta took the lead with the first action on 53 minutes. It was Dylan Agius who set Paul Chimezie for the latter to advance into the area and lob over Calleja Cremona into the net.
Pieta doubled their lead on 58 minutes through Dylan Agius who beat Calleja Cremona with a hard, low shot from the edge of the area.
On 68 minutes, Pieta went close to score a third goal when Busuttil set Mensah in the Saints area, but face to face with goalie Calleja Cremona, who did well to block the Pieta striker's effort.
In the 74th minute, Busuttil ran three quarters of the pitch only to be foiled by Jacob Walker who robbed him of the ball just before he was about to shoot at goal.
Three minutes from the end, St Andrews were back in the match as they reduced the arrears through Ricardo Martin who kicked the ball home following a cross from Martin Davis.
Just before the final whistle it was substitute James Scicluna who rounded goalie Calleja Cremona before scoring his side's third goal.